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Last year, TLC first told you that Bloomsbury would be releasing a special edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as part of their 21 Great Reads for the 21st Century collection. That book is now available, and it contains a new introduction from author Alexander McCall Smith, as well as two pages from J.K.Rowling discussing her favorite Classic, Contemporary and Children’s books, along with a general Top Ten list of favorites. Thanks to reader Roonwit, we can now bring you a excerpt of what is contained in this new edition of the first book, which is as follows:

From the foreword by Alexander McCall Smith:
“… this is gripping storytelling: humorous, slightly anarchic and imbued with an immense sense of fun. And it deals with important things, particularly the battle between good and evil….That this book changed something, and changed it for the better, is beyond all doubt. It gave to those who otherwise might not be great readers an
insight into what joy reading can be. It gave to those whose imagination had not been given room to flourish the opportunity to enter a world of imaginative fantasy. It brought great happiness and excitement, just that,
into countless young lives. No other book in history has done this to the same extent and probably no other book ever will. That is why this book will not be forgotten.”

From J.K. Rowling:Children’s Book
It’s a three way tie between “The Story of the Treasure Seekers” by Edith Nesbit, for the character of Oswald, “Manxmouse” by Paul Gallico, for its wistful, magical tone, and “The Little White Horse” by Elizabeth Goudge, for its plain, vain heroine.

Classic
“Emma” by Jane Austen, for the incomparable characterisation, the humour of so much self-delusion and the Churchill/ Fairfax twist.

Contemporary book
It changes monthly, but the last novel I fell in love with was “Arthur and George” by Julian Barnes, and the last piece of non-fiction I couldn’t put down was “Assassination Vacation” by Sarah Vowell.